Today's Scripture:
Matthew 24:36-44 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Reflect: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
I did not know when I would begin my first position after graduating from Fuller.
I did not know when I would hear, “You’re going to be a grandmother.”
I did not know when I would be ordained.
I did not know when I would stand by my dearest friend’s bed and help her process, “It’s terminal.”
I did not know it would be just six days later that she would be with the Lord.
I did not know when I would be a grandmother for the fifth time.
I did not know when my life would intersect with someone else, and they would come to know Jesus by His grace as I lived out His teachings through my words and actions.
I did not know when these joys and hardships would come. They came as unexpected gifts and unwanted losses. No matter how much planning we do, the unexpected happens. One of those unexpected times will be when Jesus returns. We know Jesus is coming again – His arrival will come when we are living our everyday lives. But in reality, it will be unexpected - how are you preparing?
Thanks be to God for the gift of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus’ grace that is present in the unexpected - celebrating with us in all our joys, carrying us through in all our uncertainties, and holding us tight in our times of sorrow. We have His mercy, comfort, strength, and so much more when we place ourselves in His hands, center ourselves in His Word, quiet ourselves in His presence, and live out His teachings. We prepare ourselves as we can and lean on Him for the rest. When we do this, we are able to encounter the unexpected and make God known in the midst of joy, strife, sorrow, and everything in between.
Read: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
Jesus is coming again! We don’t know the day or the hour - only the Father knows the timing of Christ’s return. We must be prepared, we must be vigilant in our readiness, because He will come when we least expect it.
Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
This Scripture reminds me that the Lord is calling us to be prepared at all times for His return. What does that look like in our everyday lives? To be ready is to be engaged in the transformation which takes place when we follow Jesus. It’s living out the gospel where we live, work, and play. We impact the Kingdom when we ready ourselves for Christ’s return by being a disciple and by walking with others as they learn to follow Jesus.
About Denise Phelps:
I am a mom of three boys, now men, and mother-in-love of three wonderful women. I have five grandkids - three girls, and two boys. I am blessed!!
I have been a part of the Grace family now for ten years, serving as the Pastor of Caring Ministries for the past two.